It is difficult if not impossible to compare pricing on products that do not
contain the same capabilities. Additionally, pricing is normally contingent
upon the platform, processors, quantity, training, and/or consulting
required by the Client. Are you using Windows or UNIX, how many processors,
do you need to handle 1000 rows or 1,000,000,000 rows ? Are these rows per
minute, hour, day, week, month, etc ? Do you require access to SAP R/3, SAP
BW, or other such Applications ? How many developers ? Where will the sale
transpire (assists in making sure taxes, if any, and correct currency(s) are
used) ?

Think of it as if you were purchasing a car. You can't compare Chrysler to
Volvo to Mercedes to Ford to General Motors without being more specific with
items such as; model, leather/leather-like/cloth, color, safety, speed,
realiability, warranty, etc.... What are your needs, both now and in the
future and will this choice meet you main objectives.

And may I suggest that you contact the software vendors directly to ensure
you receive the correct pricing and capability information from each. I am
sure they would be more then willing to assist you.

I agree. The more important issues revolve completely around features
and function. Most, if not all, of these products are compartmentalized
and/or scaled. So there is no set price for, say, Informatica. It
depends on the number/type of input sources, complexity/source of data,
platform, etc. etc.

For instance, can you create a flat file of all the data that needs to
be loaded as a pre-process to ETL? If so, then you don't need the extra
components for extracting data from multiple places. On the other hand,
that may be the functionality that you need the most, and if so, then be
prepared for some sticker shock.

Look at requirements first, set their priorities, then make it the
vendor's responsibility to set the price fairly for the requirements you
have (make it competitive and make sure the vendors KNOW they are
competing). You might want an independent consultant to assess the
current environment and draw up a roadmap and a requirements list. One
other thing, please know that whatever layout you are currently planning
for the data warehouse will change, a lot, often. So the ETL has to be
flexible and useable. If it's really hard to customize and use
(comparatively speaking of course), think hard before buying it.
Consider requiring every vendor to perform a proof of concept on the top
2 or 3 products (you may have to pay for this privilege but try
negotiating a back-end rebate if you choose their product).

And pay for the training once you decide. Shelfware is THE most
expensive software.